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Piper PA-28 Wing Spar Issue Now An FAA AD

As expected, the proposed Airworthiness Directive to inspect the wing spar on thousands of Piper PA-28 and PA-32-series aircraft (including retracs) has been finalized. As we reported last fall, the AD was prompted after an Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University Piper Arrow lost a wing on a commercial checkride flight in Florida back in 2018. 

The final ruling and prescribed compliance is written in AD 2020-26-16 and includes inspection for wing fatigue cracking in a visually inaccessible area of the lower main wing spar cap. 

Larry Anglisano

Editor in Chief Larry Anglisano has been a staple at Aviation Consumer since 1995. An active land, sea and glider pilot, Larry has over 30 years’ experience as an avionics repairman and flight test pilot. He’s the editorial director overseeing sister publications Aviation Safety magazine, IFR magazine and is a regular contributor to KITPLANES magazine with his Avionics Bootcamp column.